A/N- Thanks to everyone who has ever reviewed on this story to help get over my writers block I went through and reread all of you comments and it helped me feel more motivated to be creative, if that makes sense. Anyway its thanks to you I was able to write this chapter. Extra long chapter ahead 4,240 words long. Now enjoy. :)
Thanks to Twilight Rose2 for betaing
Disclaimer- Little known fact, I actually own Avatar, yep that's right I'm taking all credit…In case you couldn't tell I was being sarcastic XP
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Then he heard someone walk up beside him, it was the Mechanist.
"What seems to bothering you my boy?" he asked Sokka
"Nothing just a little nervous is all. Did you complete work on those plans I sent you?"
"Why yes I did. And let me tell you how marvellous an idea it was."
They continued talking about the invention, Sokka momentarily forgetting about how he failed to give his speech. And soon they were on the boats sailing off, to what Sokka truly believed was victory, after all his plans had never failed before.
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On the boat Toph took up her usual seat next to Sokka tightly clinging to his arm for security. Next to her she could feel Sokka's heart beating erratically and she could hear his breath escaping his mouth.
"Jeez Snoozles, calm down or your going to give yourself a heart attack. Do you wanna die before you even get a chance to kick some major Fire Nation butt?"
"No! But I can't help it what if we fail? What if I die?" he took in a slow breath and said in a voice so soft Toph could barely hear him, "What if you die?"
Toph was taken back by this last statement. It was so sudden she wasn't sure if it was real. She wasn't even sure she was meant to hear it. She shook her head to clear her thoughts before they grew to wild and outrageous. "Don't be crazy it was your plan remember? Your plans never fail. And about you dying didn't we already go over this? I'm gonna be watching your back the whole time, I won't let anything near you." She gave him what she hoped was a confident and reassuring smile. "I'm the greatest earthbender in the world, nothings going to happen to me."
'This is it, its now or never' Sokka thought to himself. His heartbeat rose even more as he opened his mouth to speak. "Toph I have to tell you something"
Her breath caught in her throat at the sound of his voice. She couldn't believe he was about to say it. She put on a calm expression as if she had no idea what he was about to do. "Yes?" 'I hope that didn't sound to expectant'
"Toph I…"
Just then an alarm sounded. Sokka looked up, they were nearing the great gates of Azulon. The alarm continued to ring as the netted gates caught fire, preventing their entrance to the fire nation capitol. Then it grew completely silent, Sokka couldn't see anything in the dense fog except the image of the burning gates in front of him. A creepy feeling entered his body at the silence, it was unnerving.
"Sokka what's happening?" Toph asked her voice was strong and confident, she kept her feelings of worry and fear tightly locked away inside.
"We've just been spotted" his voice also masking his nervousness and panic.
Then it was heard, speed boats approaching there fleet. The sound cut through the silence like a hot knife through butter.
"Everyone below deck!" Hakoda shouted "Lets hope your invention works" he said to Sokka as Sokka grabbed Toph's arm helping her below deck. When they got there Sokka steered Toph in the direction of his invention, the submarine. He led her inside.
"So how exactly does this thing work anyway?" she asked. The danger of the moment before had made her forget about what Sokka was about to tell her.
"Well, this is basically a water proof tube the uses water bending to sink and float beneath the surface of the water. We can travel around virtually undetectable. The only problem is it has a limited air supply that the Mechanist couldn't fix. He said that we'll have to resurface once before we reach the main land." He explained as the sub took off into the water, also forgetting his thoughts of telling Toph his feelings.
"Wow Sokka that's amazing you really invented this?" Toph asked awed.
"I just came up with the idea, the Mechanist did all the work." He said shrugging
The Mechanist heard his modest comment and interjected "Now don't sell yourself short my boy, it was your idea all the credit should go to you."
Toph was suddenly overtaken by a wave of sickness, her head was spinning and there was no way to make it stop. She slumped down to the floor and leaned against the wall of the sub, all the feelings of amazement she had felt towards Sokka for his wonderful invention left her as she held her head in her hands. "I take that back, this is worse than flying, how could you invent such a horrible way of travel?" she said sickly.
The Duke, who had had been sitting against the wall when Toph slumped down next to him, removed his helmet, "Helmet?" he asked as he handed it to her. She grabbed at it and without replying emptied her stomach into it.
Sokka looked at her worried, and knelt to the ground next to her. "Are you okay?"
"Ohh I'm just fine, peachy keen in fact. I'm only puking my guts out because that's what all the cool kids are doing nowadays" she said sarcasm dripping from each word. She puked once more.
Sokka laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I guess that was kind of a stupid question huh?"
"Ya think?"
"It's okay. You're just a little sea sick. I'm sure you'll get over it soon enough." He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Sokka I need you over here to go over some last minute battle plans" said Hakoda from the back of the sub. He was bent over a small map of the capitol city and was stroking his beard thoughtfully.
"Okay" he gave Toph's shoulder a soft squeeze before standing up and walking over to his dad. "What's wrong?" He asked when he reached his father.
"I just got word from Bato that five of the tanks were damaged somehow and now they won't run, with five tanks down we need to think up a new strategy."
"Do you know what kind of damage they suffered?"
"The metal tracking on the bottom seems to have been broken somehow. Why?"
"We don't need a new strategy we just need to fix them" Sokka exclaimed.
"But how? We're in the middle of the ocean with no way to melt the metal back together." Said Hakoda confused.
Sokka smiled, the grin spreading across his face. "Her name is Toph"
"That's right I have forgotten that she can bend metal."
"Yep" he looked over in her direction a goofy smile on his face, his eyes shining with admiration.
Hakoda noticed the look in his eyes "So how are things with you two?" he asked slyly
"What do you mean?" Sokka asked oblivious to the mischievous look on his fathers face, he was to busy staring at Toph. To him she looked just as beautiful when she was pale with sickness as when she wasn't.
"You know what I mean. Why was she holding your arm when we were aboard the ship?"
"She can't 'see' when she's on wood. I guess she holds my arm for security. She does it all the time when we're flying on Appa." He said not even taking his eyes off of the girl in question. He had, not for the first time, gotten himself trapped in his thoughts of sharing a kiss with her. His face now displayed a faraway look, his eyes now clouded over with a daydream.
"Why doesn't she hold onto Katara or Aang?" Sokka didn't respond "Hello? Earth to Sokka"
"I'm sorry, what?" he said quickly, getting pulled out of his daydreaming, and putting his attention back on his dad.
"I asked why she doesn't hold onto your sister or Aang."
"I never really thought about that. I guess it would be because Aang is always steering Appa and Katara is likely to coddle her to death."
"Do you like her and I mean as more than a friend?" he asked getting straight to the point.
Sokka choked and sputtered "What?!" he finally managed.
"Come on I just saw the way you were staring at her. It was the same way I looked at your mother before I finally got the courage to ask her out on a date."
"Dad!" Sokka was now blushing and embarrassed.
"What? I'm just saying. Also your mother and I were four years apart, just thought I would throw that out there. Now back on topic, when we resurface for air I want you to take Toph to the tanks and see if she can fix them okay?"
"But Toph will probably want to get some fresh air, she is sick you know, it would do her some good."
"Okay then, take her for some fresh air first then take her to the tanks. How does that sound?"
"Good I guess, now if you don't need me I'm going to tell Toph and see if she's alright." He walked away, his father smiling at his retreating back.
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Aang rode on Appa steering him through the underwater currents, a huge air bubble stretched over the bison's head. As he steered Aang couldn't help but feel very nervous about the task that had been set upon him. How was he going to win this fight? Their whole strategy depended on the fact that the Fire Lord wasn't guarded or even expecting an eclipse, if there were guards surely they would fight tooth and nail to save their lord, who would probably escape to a secret bunker in all of the commotion, and by the time he found him again the eclipse would be over. Of coarse no one had voiced these concerns aloud they were all to certain of their secrecy and hopeful for a victory.
'What if I fail?' he asked himself repeatedly
Aang's mind stopped these terrible thoughts that were threatening to overcome him, and instead wondered about how much time had passed sense they had started travelling under the water. Sokka had told him that they would need to resurface once before reaching the land to get air. This was when Aang would fly on his new glider to the Fire Lord's palace and confront him.
'But in the meantime I need to find something to take mind off of all this'
He looked around; from his place on Appa's head he could see the glistening water surrounding them, threatening to crush him with it weight and power. Through its depths he could see the subs gliding effortlessly through the water as schools of many coloured fish swam past. There were deep hues of purple and red, brilliantly bright pinks and yellows and oranges, verdant greens and calming blues, all swimming past without a care unaware of the war happening just outside of their world. The sight was breathtaking and it calmed him and made him forget his troubles.
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'Stupid Sokka, stupid sub, stupid invasion, why couldn't we have found an easier way onto this stupid island.' all these thoughts and some much worse ones crossed Toph's mind as she sat in pain holding her spinning head in her hands.
Sokka walked up beside her, "Hey Toph are you feeling any better?" he asked concerned.
His voice caused a jolt of pain through her head with each word. "Jeez Snoozles think you could talk any louder?" she said annoyed
"Sorry," he replied softer this time. "I take that as a no. But listen we should be resurfacing for air in about 20 minutes so that should help out a lot, then we have a problem I need you to fix."
"What is it?" she asked, lifting her head out of her hands to face him, curiosity gracing her features.
"Well five of the tanks that we're using for the invasion some how got the tracking on them broken. We need you to metal bend them back together if you can."
"What do you mean if?" she said regaining some of her normal composure. "Do you think I won't be able to do it? I'm the greatest earthbender ever!"
"I know I didn't mean it like it sounded I was just…"
Toph cut off his nervous rant with a laugh and still snickering slightly she said "Wow even with out my senses I can tell your heart is beating a million miles an hour. Just calm down." She punched him in the arm "And thanks"
He rubbed his now sore arm "For what?"
"Making me feel better. My head doesn't hurt anymore and the world has stopped spinning."
"You're welcome, I guess. But what did I do?" he was slightly confused.
"I don't know, can't you just take the thanks I give to you?" she slugged him in the shoulder again.
"That depends, are you going to hit me again?"
"Maybe, I haven't decided yet"
It was completely silent for a moment as Sokka eyed her suspiciously before both started laughing at the same time. As their mirth continued Katara walked up to the pair.
"Hey you two get serious and stop fooling around if you haven't noticed we're fighting a war here." They both stopped immediately "Now then we're resurfacing sooner than expected so hurry up and get some air so you can repair those tanks"
As she walked away Toph muttered "Killjoy…" under her breath so only Sokka could hear it.
Sokka snickered "Yeah, but she's probably just stressed right now, I mean the outcome of this whole war is decided by what we're doing right now; and just a minute ago we were laughing like nothing important was happening. It probably just made her a little mad."
Toph gave him a weird look before once again slugging him in the arm, "Don't pull that reasoning crap on me. Just because we're having fun keeping ourselves busy before a huge battle, doesn't mean she can come over here a yell at us. Now come on lets go to the hatch as soon as this thing hits fresh air I'm out of here, this air is getting way to stuffy."
"I still have to fight with this arm you know." he said in annoyance as he stood and helped her up.
"You'll get over it." she said as they both walked towards the hatch.
They reached the hatch at the exact time that the sub broke the surface of the water. Sokka went up the ladder first and opened the hatch. A gust of cool fresh salty air hit his face as he went through the opening, fallowed closely by Toph.
"Fresh air!" she exclaimed as she inhaled a huge breath of air through her nose and exhaled loudly through her mouth. "I never thought I would miss air this much."
Just then Appa broke the surface of the water, Aang atop his head. Aang air bent himself onto the deck of the sub. "Hey guys. Where's Katara?" he asked looking around.
"Right here" answered Katara as she climbed through the hatch.
They all stood in silence, a sombre mood hung in the air between them.
"So this is it huh?" said Aang breaking the silence, sounding glum and looking at his feet, his hand tightly griped his new glider.
"Are you ready for the Fire Nation to know that the Avatar's alive" asked Sokka
"I'm ready" He said his voice strong and confident. Katara pulled him into a hug fallowed by Sokka and Toph.
"I hope you kick some serious Fire Lord butt twinkle toes" said Toph
"Thanks guys" said Aang pulling out of the group hug.
"Well me and Sokka should go and fix those tanks now. Come on Sokka." She grabbed his hand and led him back towards the entrance to the sub; all the while smiling to herself. If Twinkle Toes was going to say anything to Katara now would be the perfect time.
Aang and Katara were now all alone and there was an awkward silence between them.
'This is it. This has to be the moment Toph was talking about. I should tell her.'
He took a deep breath summoning all of his courage. "Katara, I..."
But he wasn't alone, at the same time Katara had started to talk. "Aang, I…"
Aang smiled his statement could wait just a few minutes longer. "You go first."
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They walked through the control room. "Are Katara and Aang still on the deck?" asked Hakoda
"Yeah I think so."
"Well we need to submerge. Once you show Toph to the damaged tanks I need you to go and tell her."
"Okay" They continued on their way to the tanks finally Sokka stopped at a ladder leading downwards into the sub. "Here it is right down this ladder. I have to go get Katara so we can submerge."
"Wait. Aren't you going to show me which ones are the damaged ones?" she asked not wanting Sokka to interrupt Katara and Aang's moment.
"Ohh right. Here follow me" we went down the ladder fallowed by Toph. He walked about ten paces and stopped "Here's the first one. While your fixing it I'm going to tell Katara that we need to submerge and then I'll come back and show you to the next one." He started to walk back towards the ladder.
"Wait!" Toph cried trying to buy a little more time.
Sokka stopped "What?"
"Umm, how am I supposed to fix them? I mean where's the tracking?"
"Oh right sorry." Standing behind her he grabbed her hands and pushed her forward, closer to the tank, and placed them on cold metal. "The fracture in the tracking is right here" he slid both of her hands across the surface of the metal tracks until they came into contact with a large break in the metal. "Need anything else?" he asked still holding her hands.
"Umm" Toph was blushing from the contact, Sokka's chest was pressed up against her back and his arms were wrapped around her shoulders his hands still clutching hers. They were in a situation very similar to the one they were in just that morning and when Sokka realized this he too blushed and released her hands taking a step backwards.
"Sorry…" he said still blushing
"For what?" she asked also blushing. 'It's a good thing my back is towards him' she thought to herself.
"Nothing. Do you need anymore help?"
"No, I can handle it now" she said not able to think of anything else to stall him.
"Okay. I'll be back" he left without another word.
Sokka walked down the subs hallway finally reaching the hatch to the deck. He took his time walking up the ladder and upon reaching the top he casually looked out of the porthole before opening the hatch.
Sokka did a double take. He stared, mouth wide. 'Is that Aang…kissing MY baby sister?'
It was. Sokka watched as the kiss ended and Aang took off, without a word, on his glider. Sokka felt a sudden anger overcome him but it quickly disappeared as he realized there was nothing to be angry about. Aang was a very trustworthy person and if Sokka had to choose anyone for Katara it would be him. He was just being overprotective, like any brother would be, and he felt relief at finding out that Aang's girl problems involved Katara and not Toph. The scene had also reminded him of something had meant to do by now, tell Toph his feelings.
When he finally opened the hatch Katara was facing away from him, her eyes looked with longing and worry in the direction Aang had flown off to. "Hey Katara! What are you doing we're about to submerge." He would pretend he hadn't saw.
"Right." She said snapping into action, she jumped onto Appa's head forming a huge water sphere around it to trap in air.
As soon as she was under the surface of the water Sokka shut the hatch and climbed down the ladder. He went to the control room to tell them to submerge then he went straight to Toph. He found her leaning against the tank looking bored.
"Jeez Snoozles what's the rush?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" he asked confused.
"You were practically running to get here. What's the big hurry?" 'Could he have possibly seen anything?' She wondered.
"Ohh," he hadn't realized he had been walking so fast, he was to consumed with what he was about to tell Toph. He suddenly grew nervous, and thanked the solid wood floor he was standing on, that Toph couldn't sense his heart beating erratically in his chest. "Nothing. So did you fix this tank?"
Toph furrowed her brow. There was something different in his voice, was it nervousness? "Yeah…" she replied brow still furrowed and standing up straight no longer casually leaning on the tank. There was silence. "Aren't you going to show me to the next tank?" she raised an eyebrow at him.
"Ohh yeah. Right, umm this way." He walked over to her grasping her hand gently within his own and led her to the next tank. He placed her hands on the damaged part and took a step back. He watched intently as she twisted and mended the metal beneath her hands with little effort. It would never cease to amaze him how easily bending came to her, especially with her blindness, but he supposed that her blindness might actually be the reason she was so gifted in bending. Soon she was done and he looked over her work, it was as if the metal had never been damaged. "Wow, Toph you're amazing." He praised
"Didn't I tell you I was the greatest? Now off to the next one" she held out her hand expectantly with a smug look on her face. Sokka complied grasping it yet again and leading her to the next tank.
They finished fixing the rest of the tanks in silence. When the last one was done Toph rubbed her hands together and sighed. "Well that was the last one. We should head back to the control room and see how much time we have until we reach the land." She reached her hand out expecting Sokka to lead her back to the ladder.
Sokka looked at her outstretched hand and took a deep breath, this was it finally. He grabbed her hand. "Toph we need to talk." He pulled her to a nearby wall and slid down it into a sitting position, prompting her to do the same. "I'm about to say something and I want you to promise me you won't laugh or hurt me in any way."
"I can't make a promise like that. Most of the time you say some thing that either makes me want to laugh at your stupidity or hurt you." She responded with out any thought. 'Stupid! What am I doing? I could ruin this'
"Toph I'm being serious here."
"I know. I'm sorry, I promise not to laugh at you or hurt you in anyway, no matter what." Her heart was beating franticly in anticipation of what was coming next and, through her contact with his hand; she could tell that so was his.
"On our long journey we've been through a lot together Toph. At first I simply thought of you as a new, and rather childish, addition to our group, someone a little more annoying than useful. Then as time went on I started to value your friendship and I saw and admired your true earth bending abilities. It wasn't until recently that I started to see you in a whole new way. I started having thoughts about you that were confusing and they made me feel different around you. Every time you got close to me or laughed at one of my jokes my stomach did flips. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've really grown to like you, as more than just a friend. When I was away from you for those four days you're practically the only thing I thought of. It made me realize what I thought I felt for Suki wasn't real. I know our age differences are kind of big but I'm willing to wait a couple of years for you to get more mature, and in a few years I was wondering if maybe you would want to go do something, sometime, at a place. Possibly…" during his talk he had kept his eyes glued to the floor in front of him but as he finished talking he looked up expectantly at her face.
Toph was speechless, she knew what was coming but she didn't know it would be so…amazing. Words couldn't describe how she was feeling at that moment. Sokka was holding his breath, he couldn't read the expression on her face so he had no idea what she was going to say. She opened her mouth to speak when all of a sudden a call was heard throughout the sub.
"Earthbenders into your tanks!"
She looked at him and gave him a quick smile "I have to go and so do you" she pulled her hand out of his and walked over to the tank she had just finished repairing. She got in just as a whole crowd of earthbenders and Water Tribe men came rushing down the ladder and into the room.
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A/N- Please review on your way out. I want to know how you liked it. Action next chapter!
-Megi